Is it possible to buy a bad printer/scanner from any of the majors these days?

The Epson Workforce printers have been some of my favorite to work with, with a great combination of fast print and scan speeds and the ability to use refillable ink cartridges. (Note that refillable cartridges are NOT the same as refilling spent cartridges.) I saw a nice Workforce 610 model (or thereabouts) on sale at Sam's Club recently for under a hundred dollars. The Workforce line is made for office while the NX is made for home. But the cost difference is so small compared to the difference in performance and durability that it's a no-brainer when you want to get a printer/scanner that just goes and goes. Plus, the Workforce scanner includes auto sheet feed and automatic scanning to memory card. I've used inexpensive ebay inks/carts in my older Workforce 500 for almost three years, and that thing still just cranks out scans and prints without a hiccup.

vdubreeze
wrote:

Well, now that school is started for the kids I can't put it off any longer. The Kodak ESP7, which was always a bother, is asking for its fourth printhead, which she obviously isn't going to get. I need a decent printer which will never be asked to print out better than school assignments BUT I would like it to be a decent scanner as well, which the Kodak was not. Watching my 15 year old print out a last minute report on my Epson was like opening my wallet and watching all the bills go flying out : )

So: good ink usage but no high print quality required, with a scanner that I could use for archiving assorted media without having to post process it to death to make it look like the original, though not for gallery use, just for decent archives. Budget for this printer is a consideration (I'm looking for my own new printer at the same time) and a lower price trumps a better scan (for now).

Mostly on OSX around here. Any sleepers in this category I should know of?

Latest in-depth reviews

The Nikon Z6 may not offer the incredible resolution of its sibling, the Z7, but its 24MP resolution is more than enough for most people, and the money saved can buy a lot of glass. Find out what's new and notable about the Z6 in our First Impressions Review.

Many cameras today include built-in image stabilization systems, but when it comes to video that's still no substitute for a proper camera stabilization rig. The Ronin-S aims to solve that problem for DSLR and mirrorless camera users, and we think DJI has delivered on that promise.

The SiOnyx Aurora is a compact camera designed to shoot stills and video in color under low light conditions, so we put it to the test under the northern lights and against a Nikon D5. It may not be a replacement for a DSLR, but it can complement one well for some uses.

At its core, the Scanza is an easy-to-use multi-format film scanner. It offers a quick and easy way to scan your film negatives and slides into JPEGs, but costs a lot more than similar products without a Kodak label.

Latest buying guides

If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that while they're a bit older, still offer a lot of bang for the buck.

What's the best camera for under $500? These entry level cameras should be easy to use, offer good image quality and easily connect with a smartphone for sharing. In this buying guide we've rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing less than $500 and recommended the best.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Sony mirrorlses cameras in several categories to make your decisions easier.

Whether you've grown tired of what came with your DSLR, or want to start photographing different subjects, a new lens is probably in order. We've selected our favorite lenses for Canon DSLRs in several categories to make your decisions easier.